Automobile axle-straightening device



Feb; 5, 1929. 1,700,748 R. A. 'SCHAAF I AUTOMOBILE AXLE STRAIGHTENINGDEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1927 I 2-Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR yg wwz ATTORNEY QFeb. '5, 1929. 1,700,748

R. A. SCHAAF AUTOMOBILE AXLE STRAIGHTENINQDEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY atented Feb. 5, 1929.

RICHARD A. SCHAAF, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE AXLE-STRAIGHTENING DEVICE.

Application filed January 21, 1927. Serial No. 162,461.

This invention relates to appliances as used )y smiths and repair meninstraightening ind reconditioning metal beams with particular referenceto the front axles of automobiles.

Such axles when sprung or bent out of shape by collisions etc. requirerestoration to their original condition before the vehicle can beadvantageously used and the expense of such reconditioning dependslargely on thetime taken in making corrections.

In straightening an axle occasionally the beam portion between itsbearing pads requires readjustment and the end members which engage theknuckles almost invariably need flexing, laterally and vertically tocause proper alinement and registration, all of which can obviously beaccomplished far more easily and speedily if the axle be operated uponwhen in a suitably hot condition.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a support standon which an axle may be rigidly clamped so rapidly that the heatimparted to the axle is not materially dissipated.

A further feature is in the provision of a. stand having at least oneadjustable support whereby axles of varying distances between their padsmay be accommodated.

Another purpose is to provide a surface plate at one or both ends of thestand in a plane parallel with the support seats, these surface platesbeing provided with means for testing and gaging the axle end bearings,as to their parallelism, angularity and distances apart.

Finally it is the purpose to produce a simple, "sturdy structure forsuch uses, readily and conveniently operated and capable of withstandingsevere service.

These several objects are attained by the novel construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which 2-Figure 1 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the inventionshowing its application to one type of front axle.

Figure 2 is a similar view of-thesame as applied to a different type ofaxle, parts being broken away to' show the construction.

Figure 3 is aside elevational view of a gage carrying rod usedin-connection with the apparatus.

The structure consists of a bed or body 5,

here shown as a suitable length of rolled steel-- beam disposedhorizontally, its web being gubstantially parallel with the groundsurace.

The beam is supported near one end by rolled angles constituting legs 6riveted to the flanges, tied by a cross piece 7 and provided withangularly disposed braces 8.

Near the other end the beam is supported by a heavy tube 9 provided withflanges 10 at its end, one of which rests on the floor and the othersecured to the under side of the web.

The upper edges of the beam flanges are preferably planed level anduniform to present track-ways 11 on which is secured a'pillow block 12substantially over the legs 6.

A second pillow block 14 is held adjustably on the track by book bolts13 engaging under the lower flanges, thus permitting the block 14 to bemoved towards and from the block 12.

These blocks have converging front and rear walls leading to levelledseats 15 parallel with the tracks and on which the axle 15 is disposedin an inverted position, the blocks being adjusted to receive the axlepads 17 directly on the seats.

At the back of each block seat is a raised central lug 18 onwhich is apivoted fork 19 formed on the rear element of a U-shaped clamp frame 20,the forward element of which has pivoted to it a loop-link catch 21adapted to engage a projection 22 extending rigidly from the front ofthe blocks below the seats 15. guides 27 on the frames being providedfor the link catches. these guides acting as stops upon contact with theupper surfaces of the projections '22.

A clamp screw 23, provided with a bar receiving head 24, is threadedinto the upper part of the clamp frame, the lower end of the screwpassing through guides 25 movable between the frame sides and terminatein pivoted shoes 26 adapted to rest on the axle over the seats 15. r i

It will'be apparent that by slackening the clamp screws, the links 21may be engaged or disengaged with the projections 22 and if disengaged,the 1y turned upward out of the way, releasing the axle, which when inan operative position, the clamps rigidly hpld the pads on the seats 15.

As shown in Figure 1 the axle is of the type used in connection withknuckle joint axle clamp frame may be instantends and extends outwardsbeyond the blocks suficiently to permit of the use of wrenches, leversand the like in reconditioning bends and twists which may have occurredin either I or both the axle ends.

In order to ascertain when the axle has been properly corrected, aspindle 28 may be inserted in the axle end openings and use made of asurface gage 29 having proper feelers 30 adj ustably on the stem of thegage, the base of which is freely movable on a surface plate 31 restingon the track. 11.

Obviously by the use of a properly constructed gage the position of theopenings in the axle ends can be. accurately determined, the same beingindicated in Figure 2 where a gage with an inclinable stem is shown.

By shiftin the surface plate to the other end of the ax e it may also bereadily seen if the endsxof the axle bearings are in register, as well'as the vertical or angular axis of the openings. t s a The gage shownin Figure 3 consists of a bar 35 of indefinite length on'which ismounted a pair of adjustable V-shaped gages by which the distancebetween spindles entered in the axle end openings may be calibrated;this gage is also provided with a central element 37 showing therelation of the openings to the sides of the axle.

It is to be noted that, due to the instant application of the clamps, anaxle may be treated when at a suitable heat to permit bending, noappreciable loss of time ensuing in rigidly clamping the axle on theblock seats, and that the sturdy structure presented admits of heavyblows and severe bending of the axle without detriment, while it will beapparent that by reason of the adjustability of the block 14, axles ofvarying length may be conveniently treated.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in itsconstruction, without the exercise of invention or conflicting with thescope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An axle straightening device comprising a bed, a pair of anvil blocksthereon having surfaces to support the straight central portion of anaxle at a distance above said bed, frames hinged to said blocks to swingthereover, releasable means for locking said frames to the blocks whenin operative position, screws in said frames having pivoted shoes toimpinge on an .axle whereby it may be securely clamped at each endparallel to said bed, guides for said shoes to prevent their rotation,and stops for the frame limiting the downward movement.

2. A11 axle straightening device comprising a bed, a pair of blocksthereon having surfaces raised above the plane of saidbed to receive thestraight portions of an axle intermediate its ends, one at least of saidblocks being adjustable longitudinally on the bed, said blocks havingseats parallel with the bed, means carried by said blocks for positiyelyand quickly clamping an axle on said seats, a surface plate on said bed,and means at the ends of said bed to support said surface plate parallelwith the seats.

3. An axle straightening device comprising a bed, a pair of raisedblocks thereon having axle receiving surfaces to support the centralportion of an axle while being bent downwardly at its protruding ends,frames carrying clamp screws hinged to fold over an axle disposed onsaid surfaces, means for clamping the frames in operative position, asurface plate adapted to be positioned on either of the extending endsof said bed, and means operable on said plates to calibrate the ends ofan axle held by said frames.

This specification signed and witnessed this 19th day of J an., 1927. p

RICHARD A. SCHAAF.

